Apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers, dry-docks, breakwaters, &amp;c.



No. 732,607. U PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

\ I'. B. & C. H. UMSTBAD. APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL STONE POR BUILDING PIERS,

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' PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903. F. B. & C. H. UMSTEAD.

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UNITED STATES Patented .Tune 30, 1903;

PATENT GFFICE.

FRANKLIN B. UMSTEAD AND CHARLES H. UMSTEAD, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA. I l

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL STONE FOR BUILDING PII-IRS, DRY-DOCKS, BREAKWATERS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,607, dated J une 30, 1903.

Application led November v19, 1902. Serial No. 182,000. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that we, FRANKLINB. UMSTEAD and CHARLES H. UMSTEA'D, citizens of the United States, and residents of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain nevi1 and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Artificial Stone for Building Piers, Dry-Docks, Breakwaters, dto., of which the following is a specication.

Our invention relates to apparatus for making artificialstone piers, dry -docks, and breakwaters, and particularly to such apparatus as are adapted for the building of stone piers, stone-lined reservoirs,dry-docks,break waters, and the like, wherein the separate ingredients may be uniformly and thoroughly mixed and, when desired, deposited without loss of time or involving extra handling at the proper places where it is intended to apply the artificial stone so constituted, and our object is to provide an apparat-us of this c haracter which will insure uniformity of mixture of the ingredients, thereby effecting not only theeflicient production of an artificial stone of uniform texture throughout,l but facilitating the building of artificial-stone-lined reservoirs, stone piers, and the like.

With these objects in view our invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts and details thereof, as hereinafter' described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus embodyingr our invention mounted uponafloat in position for building a stone pier or the like. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofthe cylindrical structure on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar View on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. t is asimilar View on the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similarview on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the main hopper on the line6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail hereinafter referred to. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view of a modification, and Fig. 9 is adetail View of acam employed therewith.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference charactersrelate to the same whole structure are so designed that the ap-` paratus may not only be transported from place to place within the designated locality, but may be taken from place to place when needed, and it is so constructed as to be susceptible of such transportation as is required by this range'of movement or used in a permanently-located plant or place, as desired.

As shown, the float 28 is provided with two bulkheads 29, upon and between which the apparatusis mounted.' The apparatus is supported upon a suitable frame 1, consisting of, preferably, steel I-beams, from which extend similar vertically-.disposed beams 2, to which the various parts are attached by angle-irons 23, angle-bars, bolts, &c., and braced by similar cross-beams 3. The base girders or beams 1 are shown as mounted upon removable base or pedestal blocks 27, which may be used. as additional supports in the float 28, but need notbe employed there vunless desired, if permanent supports are attached to the float, although they are required when the apparatus is set up on land in order to clear the wheels, shafts, zc., of the structure from the ground. The main hopper/tis arranged at the top of the apparatus and is divided by partitions into three separate compartments 54, 55, and 56, each adapted to receive, respectively, the different ingredients-such as cement, sand, gravel, and stone-.and this hopper is provided with a discharge-opening adapted to direct the material upon ahorizontally-rotat- ,ing drum 6, divided circumferentially into a suitable number of pockets or recesses 7-say from twenty to thirtyand longitudinally into three divisions corresponding tothe compartments of the hopper 4., thereby constituting pockets into which the material is directed from the main hopper 4, thus providing means for feeding from the main hopper a predetermined and measured quantity of each of the ingredients. This feeding and measuring drum 6 is rotatably mounted on a shaft supported upon a hopper structure 5,

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the lower end of which hopper is closed by a vertically-movable bell 8, which is accurately counterbalanced by means of a counter weight or weights 52, the latter of which may be raised and lowered when desired to cutoff or regulate the flow of material from the hop per 5 through a discharge-opening, the area of which is determined by position of the distributing-bell 8. When it is desired lo cut olf the How of material from the hopper 5, the bell 8 is raised, thereby closing the discharge-opening from the hopper 5. The material is discharged into a distributinghopper 9 of conical contour, on the interior surface of which is disposed aseries of angularly-disposed detlecting ribs or plates 10. In the bottom of this hopper is conventionally represented a slide-valve 11, which may be closed when it is desired to shut off the material for any reason in the course of mixing. This hopper 9 is rigidly supported in the hopper structure 5 and is adapted to further inix the ingredientsthrough the medium of the deliecting ribs or plates 10, which impart to the material motion in different directions, which intersect one another, as it is delivered from the bell 8.V Located at a suitable point around the interior of the hopper 5 is a water or other liquid supply system of pipes 47, terminating in rose-jets 48, so disposed as to direct the water upon the falling mass of mixing ingredients as the latter descends into the mixing-hopper 9. This supply system derives its supply from any suitable reservoir through a pipe 6l, which in a cold climate or in freezing weather lnay be connected to the boiler 31, which is mounted upon the base structure 1 and is adapted to supply steam to the engine 32, conventionally shown as a suitable means for furnishing motive power to the different parts of the apparatus, as well as for transportation of the same, it being understood, of course, that any suitable motive power may be usedsuch as electrodynamo, steam, hydraulic, or other power-as well as manually-operated mechanism, for this purpose.

Below the collecting and mixing hopper 9 is a rotating cylinder 19, revolubly supported by means of a bearing 2O upon a fixed lower casing 2l, to the latter of which one half of the bearing structure 22 is secu red, the other half, 20, being attached, as indicated, to the cylinder 19, and between which two bearingsurfaces ball-bearings 20lare disposed. Fixed to the lower cylindrical Ycasing 21 is a distributing and collecting cone 14, provided withfangularly-disposed deliectingribs 14 on its interior surface, and passing through the fixed casing 21 and revolving cylinder 19 is a tubular shaft 17, on which are mounted the lower distributing-bell 13 of the hopper 13 and a spiral distributer 15, having ribs 15b radiating from the shaft at its lower end, said two distributers being secured to a vertical shaft 17, passing through the tubular or hollow shaft 17 and rigidly secured to the rotating cylinder 19 by a set-screw 18 passing through a bearing-collar 18, attached to a cross-bar 3L on the cylinder. The tubular shaft to which the two distributers are fixed is splined to the shaft 17 by means of feathers or splines 15, (see Fig. 7,) so as to be capable of longitudinal movement with respect thereto, but compelled to rotate with the rotating cylinder and the said shaft 17. The bell13 is connected to a suitable balanceweight 53 by means of a cord or chain passing over the pulleys and attached to the eyes 12 on opposite sides of the bell, and it will be seen that as the weight 53 is moved up and down the bell13 and the spiral distributer 15 will be caused to move vertically the distance equal to that indicated by the lettera, showing the extreme limits of movement of the said bell and distributer, Fig. 7 representing these parts in their extreme upper position. Attached to the outer periphery of the revolving cylinder 19 is acircular rack 42, engaged by a pinion 41 on the shaft 40, carrying a worm-gear 39, meshing with a wormscrew 38, operated by a pulley 37 and a belt 36, passing around the main driving-pulley 33 of the engine 32. As the pulley 33 turns it will be observed that rotary motion is conveyed to the screw 38, thence to the wormgear 39, the rack and pinion, and thence to the rotating cylinder 19.

From the spiral distributer 15 the material is directed to the receiving-chamber 24, ter minating in the hopper-discharge 25, the outlet of which is shown as directing the material into a pipe 26, having a swivel-joint 63 with the iioat, so that it may be swung in any direction within the limits of the field of operations to direct the mixed material onto the bed of the pier or reservoir or other place when needed, such lateral swinging movements of the pipe 2G beingelfected by any suitable means, as by chains 64, operated from the float or other place, by a derrick, or by a crane of any suitable type.

Motion from the driving drum or wheel 33 is conveyed to the measuring and distributing cylinder or drum 6 through the medium of the belt 36, the pulleys 62, 44, 45, and 46, and the intervening belts shown, and where it is desired to elevate the material by means of an ordinary conveyer, either a flight or bucket, (conventionallyindicated by the numeral 30,) motion is transmitted for this purpose from the driving-drum 33, the belt 35 to the pulley 34, the belt 48 to the pulley 49.

In the practice of our invention in order to effect a thorough and uniform mixture of the material, so that the resulting texture of the artificial stone will be of uniform consistency, and therefore more durable and effective, we load each successive conveyer bucket 0r [iight with the proper amount of different ingredients, taking care that no two successive conveyer buckets or flights shall be loaded with a like material, so that when the ,same is discharged into the hopper 5 or, if

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desired,into the hopper 4 the resulting mixture will be practically uniform at the entering'end of the apparatus, and as the material is successively fed downward and distributed by the bell 8, the hopper 9, bell 13, hopper 14, and the spiral distributer 15 a more uniform texture of the resulting mixture is assured, approaching as near as practicable the best possible consistency, the vertical motion ofthe bell 13 and the spiral distributer 15 materially aiding in accomplishing this result.

, When the conveyor 30 is used and the material loaded in the mannerdefined, it may not be necessary to use the main hopper It and its coperating distributing and measuring cylinder 6, since the loading of the con- Voyer-buckets with the successive charges of different ingredients 'will give a suitably uniform mixture, because lthe capacity of each bucket or iiight is the same, and hence the function of the measuring-drum is practically accomplished; but when the materials are conveyed to the apparatus by cars or wagons 58, running up an incline 57a, such carriers are transported in such sequence that a predetermined quantityot the mixture will be deliveredto the mixing apparatus below said hopper. Wheels 57 are mounted upon shafts supported in bearings on the frame 1 and driven from the engine 32 when it is desired to transport the structure from place to place,

such wheels being cleared of the ground or base when the pedestal-blocks 27 are pnt in place or, as is evident, when' the apparatus 'may be transported by any power.

We have shown in a conventional manner a derrick 50 on the oat, having its jib 51 provided with a block and tackle 51, which may be utilized to place the apparatus in position on the float and for-other purposes, and While we have indicated a steam-motor as a suitable driving power for the various parts of the apparatusit is evident that other means may be employed for the purpose, de-

pendent upon the surrounding conditions and upon the requirements of the case, and, for example, when small quantities are to be mixed, renderinga large apparatus unnecessary, a hand-winch 65 may be mounted on the shaft 40 for transmitting motion to the rotating cylinder 19 and theother parts ot' the apparatus. Y y

It will be observed that in our apparatus the different ingredients may be fed in `measured quantities to the feed-hopper, and thence measured quantities of the mixture resulting from the discharge of the ingredients from the hopper may be fed to the system of distributing and collecting devices, which preferably act alternately upon the flowing mass, so as to thoroughly mix the ingredients there of, and while we have shown c one distributers and collecting-chambers it will be understood that our invention is not limited to the specific forms shown, noris it necessary that the main hopper be a single structure divided by partitions,since it is Vevident that a plurality of separate hop'pers arranged to direct material to the distributing and collecting system may be used with similar eHect and the relative arrangement of the distributing Instead of operating the counterweight 53 by manual means a preferable construction is the modification shown in Fig. 8, where the counterweight 53 is operatively connected with the mechanism which operates the revolving cylinder 19 and its attached spiral and hopper, the lower `end of the weighted arm 53 engaging a cam 71, (shown in ldetail in Fig. 9,) which is adapted to impart a vertical motion to the spiral deilector lthrough the distance d. The cam 7l is supported upon brackets on the outside of the fixed cylinder 21, and the weighted arm 53 is preferably guided by guides 70. Y

We claim as our invention- 1. In an apparatus for making artificiall stone, the combination with a feed-hopper into which the-different ingredients are supplied, a counterbalanced'distributing device adapted to control the iiow of material from the hopper, a collecting device for'receiving the material from the distributing device, a

distributing device for distributing the mameans for moving the distributing devices so l as to control the dow of material from the IOO 'IIO

collecting devices or cut off said ow, and

means for directing the mixed material to the desired point, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a feed-hopper structure into which the different ingredients the different ingredients may be supplied in measured quantities anda hopper below the same for collecting the material in a mixed state as it iiows from the main hopper, a

measuring device interposed between the two for receiving the mixturefrom the main hop-.f

per and deliveringit to the lower hopper, and

distributing and collecting devices below the same for thoroughly mixing theingredients, and means for directing the mixture to the point desired, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for making articial stone, the combination of a feed-hopper structure consisting of an upper hopper to which the dierent ingredients may be supplied in measured quantities and a hopper below the same for collecting the material in a mixed state as it flows from the main hopper, a measuring device interposed between the two for receiving the mixture from the main hopper and delivering it to the lower hopper, a liquid-supply system arranged to discharge liquid into the fiowing mass as it leaves the lower hopper, and means for directing the mixture to the point desired, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination of a feed-hopperstructure consisting of an upper hopper to which the different ingredients may be supplied in measured quantities and a hopper below the same for collecting the material in a mixed state as it lows from the main hopper, a measuring device interposed between the two for receiving the mixture from the main hopper and delivering it to the lower hopper, and distributing and collecting devices below the same for thoroughly mixing the ingredients, a liquid-supply system arranged to direct liquid into the iiowing mass as it is discharged from the lower hopper, and means for directing the mixture to the point desired, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a feed-hopper into which the different materials are fed in measured quantities, of distributing and collecting devices for receiving the material from said hopper and thoroughly mixing the same as it flows through the apparatus, said devices consisting of one or more distributing-cones movable vertically to control the flow of material, and collecting-chambers having discharge-openings governed by the said distributing devices, means for moving the distributing cones or devices so as to govern such flow, and a collecting-hopper having a discharge for directing the material to the place of deposit, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a suitable supporting structure, of a main feed-hopper into which the material may be fed in measured quantities, distributing and collecting devices alternately acting upon the material to thoroughly mix the different ingredients as they are fed downwardly from the main hopper, said distributing device or devices being movably mounted so as to control or cut 0E the iiow of material from the respective collecting chamber or device, and a spiral distributer rotatably mounted at the lowest point of the mixing system of distributors and collectors, and a collecting discharge-hopper into which the material is directed from said spiral distributer and having a dischargeopening for directing the material to the place of deposit, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a suitable supporting structure, of a main feed-hopper into which the different ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, one or more distributing devices and collecting-chambers alternately acting upon the material to thoroughly mix the same as it flows from the main feed-hopper structure, counterbalanced weights connected to the distributers for maintaining the same in different positions with respect to the collecting-chambers cooperating therewith, one of said collecting-chambers having means for rotating the same and with it the distributing device, and a collecting and discharge hopper provided with a discharge-opening for directing the material to the place ot' deposit, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a suitable base and lioat on which the same is mounted, of a mixing apparatus comprising a main hopper structure into which the dierent ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, distributing and collecting devices interposed between the main feed-hopper structure and the point of discharge, and means for feeding the ingredients to the main hopper structure, and a chute for discharging material from the mixing apparatus, substantially as described.

ll. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers and the like, the combination with a fioat having an opening in the bottom and a chute connected thereto, of a mixing apparatus consisting of the main feed-hopper structure into which the diiierent ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, and distributing and collecting devices intervening between said hopper structure and said discharge-chute, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers and the like, the combination with a float having an opening in the bottom and a chute connected thereto, of a mixing apparatus comprising a main feedhopper structureinto which the diilerent ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, a conveyer for transporting the ingredients to the feed-hopper, distributing and collecting cones interposed between the main hopper and the discharge-chute and acting alternately upon the material to thoroughly mix the ingredients, with means for moving the distributing-cones with respect to the collecting-cones for controlling or cutting oft the flow of material therefrom, one of said distributers having4 spirally-disposed ribs for distributing the material as it is discharged in the collecting-chamber above the chute, and means for operating the movable parts, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus for making artificial main feed-hopper structure into which the.

material may be fed in measured quantities, means for conveying the measured quantities of material of the different ingredients to said feed-hopper structure, distributing and collecting devices interposed between the feedhopper and discharge-chute, a water-supply system adapted to direct water into the flowing mass as itis discharged from the hopper structure, and a collecting-chamber of the system rotatably mounted upon the fixed structure with means for causing its distributing device to rotate therewith, and means for moving the said distributing device longitudinally with respect thereto, substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building stone piers and the like, the combination with a Hoathaving an opening in the bottom and a chuteconnected thereto, of a mixing apparatus having a main feedhopper into which the different ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, means for conveying the dierent ingredients successively in measured quantities to said feedhopper, anddistributing and collecting means interposed between the feed-hopper and the discharge chute, said distributers having counterbalanced weights adapted to maintain the same in different positions of adjustment, and a water-supply system for directing the Water onto the flowing mass of the discharge from the main feed-hopper, substantially as described. v

15. In an apparatus for making artificial stone, the combination with a main feed-hopper into which the different ingredients may be fed in measured quantities, the combination of distributing and collecting cones adapted to thoroughly mix the ingredients' flowing from the feed-hopper, a collectingchamber at the lower portion of the apparatus rotatably mounted thereon,a vertical shaft mounted in bearings in the fixed structure and rotating with the rotatable collectingchamber, a distributing device conned to said shaft but movable longitudinally thereof, a spiral distributing device similarly disposed with reference to said shaft, and means for ture and rotating with'the rotatable collect-v ing-chamber, a distributing device confined to said shaft but movable longitudinally thereof, a spiral distributing device similarly disposed with reference to said shaft, and a fixed collecting-chamber interposed between the two said distributing devices, substantially as described.

17. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers, dto., the combination Withasuitablesupportingstructure,ofafeedfed,adistributingbell adapted to direct material from said hopperdownwardly,acollectinghopper to receive said material,arotatable casing for receiving the material from said drum, distributing and collecting devices below the same for receiving and distributing the material therefrom, and a pipe or conduit for directing the mixed material from the latter to the place ot' deposit, substantially as described.

18. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers, duc., the combination with a suitable supporting structure, of a feed-hopper into which the d ierent ingredients are fed, a distributing-bell adapted to direct material from said hopper downwardly, a collecting-hopper fixed below the same and having ribs on its interior surface for changing the direction of the flow of the material to cause intermingling, and a discharge-pipe for directing the material to the place of deposit, substantially as described.

19. In an apparatus for making artificial stone for building piers, &c., the combination with a suitable supporting structure, of a feed-hopper into which the different ingredients are fed, a distributing-bell adapted to direct material from said hopper downwardly, a collecting-hopper fixed below the same-having ribs on its :interior surface for changing the direction of the fiow of the material, and a spirally-ribbed distributer adapted toreceive the material from the latter-hopper, and

gredients, the combination with a fixed casing, of a rotating collecting-casing mounted thereon, a distributing-bell suspended in a11d` rotating with said casing but movable longitudinally thereof, and counterbalance devices for said bell, substantially as described.

22. In an apparatus for mixingdifferent ingredients, the combination with a fixed chatnber, of a rotatable'casing, a shaftiixed to said hopper into which thedifferent ingredients are IOO casing, ahollow shaft to which the collectingcasing is secured slidably mounted on said shaft, and a distributing-bell and spiraldistributer rigidly attached to the hollow Shaft, and means for rotating the collecting-casing, Substantially as described.

23. In an apparatus for mixing different ingredients, the combination with a xed collecting-casing, of a rotatable collecting-casing mounted thereon, means for rotating the same,'a shaft extending through both casings and fixed to the rotating casing, a hollow shaft slidably mounted on said shaft but rotating therewith, a cone distributing-bell fixed to the hollow shaft within the rotatable casing, and a spiral distributor fixed to said hollow shaft below said casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification iu the presence of zo the subscribing Witnesses.

FRANKLIN B. UMSTEAD. CHARLES H. UMSTEAD.

Witnesses as to the signature of Franklin B. Umstead:

C. H. STAMBAUGH, C. D. GOODRICH. Witnesses as to the signature of Chas. TI. Umstead:

FREDERIC A. HILLS, FREDERICK H. COOKE. 

